Ocnogyna corsica (Rambur, 1832)

Host plants:The caterpillars live polyphagous in the herb and grass layer and also feed on lower woody plants. I found caterpillars feeding at Genista sp., Urtica sp., Trifolium sp., various Asteraceae and Poaceae in Sardinia. The literature often mentions only grasses, which is too narrow.

Habitat:Ocnogyna corsica inhabits grasslands and pastures, maquis, forest edges and often mountain slopes at higher elevations. In Sardinia, I found caterpillars from sea level up to 1800m above sea level in the central mountains (May 2012). The larvae were most numerous in areas above 900m asl (Montiferru, Gennargentu) and there where still quite small at this time.

Life cycle:The adults overwinter quite developed (otherwise the pupa will hibernate at least twice) in the pupal skin and hatch from March to May, according to literature until July, but that should be the exception. The caterpillars live from April to June, at the highest altitudes probably until July. The females are brachypterous.